Trump Jr. Visits Korea Today at Invitation of Chairman Chung Yongjin...Relay Meetings with Business Leaders

Two-Day Visit... First Return in Eight Months Since Last August
Meetings with Key Figures, Including Top 10 Conglomerate Leaders, on the 30th
Around 20 Attendees Expected
Possible Sequential One-on-One Meetings, Each Lasting About an Hour

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, is visiting South Korea for a two-day, one-night trip and will hold a series of meetings with the heads of major domestic conglomerates.

Chung Yongjin, chairman of Shinsegae Group (center), is taking a commemorative photo with Donald Trump Jr. (left), the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, after attending the presidential inauguration ceremony last January with his wife Han Jihee. Provided by Shinsegae Group

According to the business community on April 29, Trump Jr. is scheduled to arrive in South Korea by private jet this afternoon and will stay until April 30. This visit comes eight months after his previous trip to South Korea in August last year, when he attended the "Build Up Korea 2024" political conference organized by a conservative youth group. This is his first visit since President Trump took office in January.

This visit was arranged at the invitation of Chung Yongjin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, with whom Trump Jr. has a close personal relationship. It is reported that Chairman Chung, reflecting the opinions of the domestic business community that wanted a bridge to communicate with the Trump administration, requested Trump Jr. to meet directly with Korean business leaders, and Trump Jr. accepted the invitation.

On April 30, Trump Jr. is scheduled to hold private, closed-door meetings with the heads of major conglomerates at an undisclosed location in Seoul. It is reported that leaders of companies with significant business interests in the U.S.?including those in the semiconductor, automotive, energy, electronics, steel, and defense industries?have expressed interest in meeting with Trump Jr. While about 20 business leaders, including key figures from the top 10 conglomerates, are expected to participate, the number may be reduced due to the short duration of the visit.

An industry official said, "Rather than a roundtable format where all participants are seated together, each business leader is expected to have a one-on-one meeting with Trump Jr., lasting about an hour per person," adding, "Considering the overall schedule and the business leaders' availability, the list of participants and the number of meetings may be adjusted."

Among the top 10 conglomerate leaders, Chung Euisun, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, is reportedly unable to attend due to overseas commitments. In addition, Shin Dongbin, chairman of Lotte Group, is currently leading a Korea Economic Association (KEF) economic delegation to Indonesia, making his attendance uncertain. Jeong Kisun, executive vice chairman of HD Hyundai, is also scheduled to tour the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan shipyard with U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, who is visiting South Korea on the same day, making it difficult for him to arrange a meeting.

It is reported that, during this visit, Trump Jr. does not plan to meet with any political or government officials in South Korea. In order to meet with such figures in a foreign country, prior consultation with the White House is required, but no such process has taken place, and there are no plans for such consultations in the future.

Meanwhile, Chairman Chung Yongjin, who arranged this visit, is expected to accompany Trump Jr. for nearly all of his scheduled events. Chung and Trump Jr. share a particularly close relationship, including a special bond through their shared Protestant faith.

Previously, in December last year, Chairman Chung visited Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, the residence of President Trump, at the invitation of Trump Jr. During this visit, he also met with President Trump, who was then the president-elect. In January, Chung visited Washington for President Trump's inauguration and, through the arrangement of Trump Jr., met with prominent U.S. political and government figures.